LEAP-1A engines to power airline’s new fleet of 50 A321neo family aircraft. Agreement valued at $4 billion at list price and over the life of the service contracts
DOHA, QATAR – Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it has selected CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power its new fleet of 50 A321neo family aircraft, the largest order of A321neo family aircraft in the Middle East.
Alongside the engine deal, the national airline of the State of Qatar has also signed with CFM International a rate-per-flight-hour support agreement to cover its entire fleet of LEAP-1A engines, including spares, for a combined total value of $4 billion at list price.
Qatar Airways has been a CFM customer since 2015 and currently operates a fleet of 38 A320ceo family aircraft, of which eight are CFM56-5B powered. The first LEAP-1A powered A321neo are scheduled to be delivered in 2020.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We chose the LEAP engine based on its proven efficiency in commercial operations. This engine addresses our strategy to operate a state-of-the-art fleet with the most advanced technologies in the industry, while expanding our network and maintaining flexibility for our customers.”
CFM International President and CEO, Mr. Gael Meheust, said: “We are excited to take another step forward in our partnership with Qatar Airways. This is a real trust mark in our products, and we look forward to helping them introduce the fuel-efficient LEAP engine into their fleet to support Qatar Airways fast growth and maintain lower operating costs.”
CFM International’s advanced LEAP engine continues to set a new industry standard for fuel efficiency and asset utilization as the fleet continues the most rapid buildup in commercial aviation history, with the fleet logging more than five million engine flight hours through August, three years after commencing commercial service.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.
Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), to more than 160 destinations worldwide. The world’s fastest-growing airline has added a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network this year, including Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; and Langkawi, Malaysia. The airline will add Gaborone, Botswana, in 2019 to its extensive route network along with Luanda, Angola; and Osaka, Japan, in 2020.
CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines. The LEAP engine family is the fastest-selling in aviation history with more than 18,600 orders and commitments, including spare engines, booked through August 2019.
Qatar Airways wins Top Regional Passenger Choice Award At The 2020 APEX Asia Awards Ceremony in Singapore
Qatar Airways announced that it has been named as ‘Best Overall in the Middle East’ at the 2020 Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) Regional Passenger Choice Awards, held in Singapore on Wednesday 13 November 2019.
The award, which was received by Qatar Airways during the 2020 APEX Asia Awards Ceremony, was voted for by Qatar Airways passengers through the APEX Official Airline Ratings™ system using the world’s highest rated travel app, TripIt.
This follows the multi award-winning airline’s success at the recent APEX Global Passenger Choice Awards in September, where it earned the title ‘2020 Five Star Global Airline’ and scooped three awards for ‘Best Seat Comfort’, ‘Best Cabin Service’ and ‘Best Food and Beverage’.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The greatest voice and testament to our success is that of our loyal passengers, and to consistently receive the prized Passenger Choice Awards, both at a global and regional level, is a huge honour."
“We are thrilled to have yet further proof that Qatar Airways is the airline of choice for so many across the globe, and we look forward to continue to living up to our role as a ‘2020 Five Star Global Airline’ and welcoming more customers to the Qatar Airways experience.”
APEX Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Joe Leader, said: “Qatar Airways winning the 2020 Passenger Choice Award for Best Airline in the Middle East demonstrates the airline’s steadfast commitment to exceeding customer expectations in every class of service."
“This incredible accomplishment on top of Qatar Airways’ three 2020 APEX Global Passenger Choice Awards illustrates an incredible series of accolades given by verified, validated, and certified customer flights around the globe.”
The APEX Passenger Choice Awards and APEX Official Airline Ratings are based on passenger feedback gathered through APEX’s partnership with TripIt from Concur®, the world’s highest rated travel-organising app. Using a five-star scale, more than one million flights are rated by passengers across nearly 600 airlines from around the world.
Passengers rate their overall flight experience from one to five stars. On the same screen, passengers are also given the opportunity to provide anonymous ratings in five subcategories: ‘Seat Comfort’, ‘Cabin Service’, ‘Food and Beverage’, ‘Entertainment’ and ‘Wi-Fi’. The single screen rating allows airline passengers to easily rate their flight in less than 15 seconds. The Passenger Choice Awards are independently certified by a professional external company hired by APEX.
The world’s fastest-growing airline, Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), to more than 160 destinations worldwide.
In addition its success in the recent APEX global and regional awards, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ in the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline of the Year’ title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.
Qatar Airways has added several exciting new destinations to its extensive network this year, including Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; and Mogadishu, Somalia; and Langkawi, Malaysia. The airline will add Gaborone, Botswana in 2019 to the growing network, along with Luanda, Angola; and Osaka, Japan, in 2020.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
